Heart attack deaths have collapsed in us, but new cardiovascular threats arise

Heart attack deaths have collapsed in recent years, but other types of cardiovascular diseases still represent a great threat.

A new study by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that general mortality rates related to heart disease have decreased by 66%, and deaths from heart attack have decreased by almost 90%.

Although heart attacks are no longer the most fatal form of heart disease, there have been increases in other types: heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and hypertensive heart disease (high -long -term high blood pressure).

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The findings were published in the magazine reviewed by Pares of the American Heart Association.

In the study, the researchers analyzed more than 50 years of data from the US disease control and prevention centers (CDC), focusing on deaths from heart disease between adults 25 years or more.

In 1970, heart attacks, also known as ischemic heart disease, represented more than half (54%) of all deaths from heart disease, according to the study.

From 2022, only 29% of deaths due to heart disease were caused by heart attacks.

However, other types of deaths from heart disease, such as heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and arrhythmia, have increased during that period.

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In 2022, these other types were responsible for 47% of deaths from heart disease, compared to only 9% in 1970, according to the study.

“This change in distribution in the types of heart disease that were dying most was very interesting for us,” said the first author of the study, Sara King, MD, an internal second year medicine resident in the Department of Medicine of the Stanford Medicine School of Medicine in Stanford, California, in the statement.

“This evolution in the last 50 years reflects incredible successes in the way in which heart attacks and other types of ischemic heart disease are handled,” he continued.

“However, the substantial increase in deaths from other types of heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias, raises emerging challenges that the medical community must address.”

“The increase of other types of heart disease that leads to death has compensated the victories of deaths from heart attacks decreasing.”

Arrhythmias, or irregular beats, occur when electrical impulses to the heart are too fast, slow or erratic, according to AHA. A common example of an arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AFIB), which begins in the upper hearts of the heart.

Heart failure is defined as a “chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the needs of the body of blood and oxygen.”

Hypertensive heart disease describes the damage to the heart caused by high long -term and not addressed blood pressure, AHA declared.

Sadiya S. Khan, MD, cardiologist and associated professor at the Northwestern University in Chicago, did not participate in the study, but commented on the “important analysis.”

“Fortunately, this study suggests important progress in a preventable cause of death: heart attacks,” he told News Digital.

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“Unfortunately, it suggests that there is a burning crisis of other types of deaths from heart disease that may be partly related to heart attacks, but speaks of the growing burden of obesity that results in more heart failure and deaths related to arrhythmia.”

“The increase of other types of heart disease that leads to death has compensated the victories of deaths from heart attacks decreasing.”

Why the decrease in heart attacks?

The researchers presented several possible reasons for the decrease in heart attack deaths, mainly advances in treatment for sudden and acute heart events.

“From the establishment and the greatest use of the spectator CPR and automated external defibrillators (DEA) to treat cardiac arrest outside the hospital environment, until the creation of care systems that promote early recognition and procedural intervention and fast medical to treat heart attacks, great advances have been made to help people survive acute heart events that were once considered a mortal sentence,” he said King in liberation.

The researchers also promoted several other medical advances, including the paragraph graft of the coronary artery, cardiac images and many new medications for heart disease.

The healthy modifications of the lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly and cholesterol management and blood pressure, have also contributed to reduced deaths of heart attack, according to the AHA report.

Khan added: “It is important to keep in mind that this does not mean that heart attack has not yet been the driver, if someone with a heart attack developed heart failure and that is now called death due to heart failure.”

Risk factors remain

Despite the improvements, the researchers warned that several other risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and physical inactivity, are still promoting cases.

Obesity in particular has increased from 15% to 40% during the period of the study, and type 2 diabetes affects almost half of American adults, according to the report.

The increase in life expectancy is another factor: since people live longer, it is more likely that a population of greater aging experience several types of heart disease.

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“We have won great battles against heart attacks; however, the war against heart disease is not over,” King said. “Now we need to address heart failure and other chronic conditions that affect people as they age.”

“The next border in the health of the heart must focus on preventing heart attacks, and also on helping people grow old with healthier hearts and avoiding chronic heart conditions later in life.”

AHA calculates the health of the heart based on an individual’s score for what he calls “life is essential 8”.

Those who obtain a high score in those eight areas are, on average, six years younger biologically than their real age.

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The eight lifestyle behaviors for optimal heart is listed below.

1. Eat better
2. Be more active
3. Quit smoking
4. Sleep healthy
5. Handle weight
6. Cholesterol control
7. Handle blood sugar
8. Handle blood pressure

Potential limitations

The researchers indicated several limitations of their study, including that they did not analyze data by age, sex, race, ethnicity, region or urbanization.

This could also be possible inconsistencies and data “errors” over the years.

“We have gained great battles against heart attacks; however, the war against heart disease is not over.”

It is also possible that the “true load” of heart attacks is “underestimated” in the findings, according to researchers.

“Certain conditions that include heart failure, myocardiopathy and arrhythmias, and, in particular, ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, they can be too simplistic,” they wrote. “Many of these cases probably have underlying causes that cannot be distinguished with precision using current or past ICD codes (international disease classification).”

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Khan said that despite the decrease in direct deaths of heart attack, heart disease in general remains the main cause of mortality in the United States, which represents more than 900,000 deaths in 2022.